Every business owner, manager,and salesman, are looking for ways to better manage time. When you enter the phrase "time management" into a search engine, you immediately see millions of sites dedicated to this topic. Most of them deal with various recommendations on how to use calendars better. However, haven't we already reached the point when our calendars control us and not vice versa? On Forbes.com, "Stop managing time," advises Henna Inam, who has spent 20 years in management positions at P&G and Novartis in seven countries.
Henna Inam refers to the concept of time as it was understood by the ancient Greeks. They had two different concepts of "time" - "Chronos" (time on the clock or a calendar) and "Kairos" (suitable time for an event). Today we tend to concentrate too much on Chronos, which makes us less efficient by only using chronological time, we often miss opportunities that appear in the present moment. What should we use instead to measure time?
Relationships
Excessive focus on scheduling meeting times in the calendar or on checking off tasks on a to-do-list distracts us from connecting with others. If we want to be successful leaders, we have to understand what is happening to the people around us and look for ways to connect with them better.
Stress
Tenacious efforts to do everything on time increases stress, which affects not only ourself but our environment. Stress is highly contagious. The task of every leader is to create an environment offering support instead of increasing stress.
Concentration
How many times have you heard that multitasking increases stress and reduces productivity? So believe it. Always focus on one task at a time.
Listening
When someone speaks to us, we often count the seconds in our mind or prepare what we want to say. The result is obvious, we are not listening. Learn to really listen and you will see that people will talk to you more. You will also get more precise information to use to make better decisions.
Perspective
Can you change your approach based on new information and opportunities, or is your mind made up and you decide in the same way despite new information and learning?
Do you agree that we should measure time also in terms of its quality?
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